Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Church Sues Seeking Use of Public Housing Community Rooms For Worship Services

Last week, a Christian church in Lansing, Michigan filed a federal lawsuit challenging the policy of the Lansing Housing Commission on use of community rooms in public housing developments. The Commission bars use of the rooms for religious worship services, while allowing them to be used by religious and non-religious groups for other activities. The complaint (full text) in His Healing Hands Church v. Lansing Housing Commission, (WD MI, filed 10/14/2015), says that it will shortly be too cold in Michigan for the church to hold services outside as it is now doing. The lawsuit contends that the city has violated the Establishment Clause as well as the church's free speech, free exercise, and equal protection rights. An ADF press release announced the filing of the lawsuit.